Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

27 January 2011

The President of the European Parliament is calling for investigation into the death of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said:

"David Kato was a man that fought for the rights of people to live freely regardless of their sexual orientation in Uganda. David Kato suffered a violent death and I send my condolences to his family. I call for the perpetrators of this crime to be brought to justice. He was a remarkable human rights defender.

I regret that Uganda is a country where homosexuality is still considered a criminal act. David Kato’s battle was to improve tolerance and encourage tolerance of divergent views of sexuality and defend the rights for lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender persons and protect vulnerable minorities.

The European Parliament has adopted two resolutions on the anti-homosexual draft legislation in Uganda. I underline that sexual orientation is a matter falling within the remit of the individual right to privacy in the framework of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. I repeat the European Parliament’s call on the Ugandan authorities not to approve this bill and to review their laws so as to decriminalise homosexuality. I also remind the Ugandan Government of its obligations under international law and under the Cotonou Agreement, which calls for universal human rights to be respected."

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European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2010 on Uganda: the so-called ’Bahati bill’ and discrimination against the LGBT population
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0495+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

European Parliament resolution of 17 December 2009 on Uganda: anti-homosexual draft legislation
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2009-0119+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

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For further information:
Robert A. Golański
Spokesman
Mobile: +32 475 751 663

Richard Freedman
Press Officer
Mobile: +32 498 983 239

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/presi...;jsessionid=EFF432E8840E461754CF81B4591B5EFC